Miniature toy sternwheel steamboat



July 14, 1931. W LEIBER 1,814,837

MINIATURE TOY STERNWHEEL STEAMBOAT Filed Jun 2U, 1930 BY ,nm ATTORNEY im E Patented July 14, 1931 OFFICE WILLIAM C. LEIBER, F PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK MINIATURE TOY STERNWI-IEEL STEAMBOAT Application filed June 20,

7 [5 which is of simple, durable construction, de-

pendable in use and efficient in action, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The invention proposes a toy boat hav- 1|10 ing a hull portion with a bow, a stern, a

keel, and a deck, a cabin portion on said deck, a paddle wheel on said stern, radial cranks on the axis of said paddle wheel, cylinder and piston structures on said deck, and con- 15 nect-ing rods between said pistons and cranks. The invention also proposes means for driving said paddle wheel for simulating that the cylinders and pistons do the driving.

The invention also proposes a means in- L20 cluding said cylinders and pistons for reversing operation of said paddle wheel.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following de- 25 scription and accompanying drawings, and

to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a 30 material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a toy boat constructed according to this invention.

- Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal `sec- 35 tional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a' fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a slide valve shown in Fig. 1.

The toy boat comprises a hull portion having a bow 11, a stern 12, a keel 13, and a deck 14, a cabin portion on said deck 14, a paddle wheel 16 on said stern 12, radial cranks 17 on the axis of said paddle wheel 45 16, cylinder and piston structures 18 on said deck 14, and connecting rods 19 between said 'pistons and the cranks 17.

The cabin portion 15 has a closed bottom section 2O and atop section 21 provided with 50 a plurality of windows 22. '.lhe top section 1930. Serial No. 462,473.

21 is of smaller size than the bottom section 2O so as to provide a top deck 23. VA railing 24 encloses the top deck so that persons may be protected against accidental falling 0E.

A ventilation horn 25 is shown upon the top 55 section 21 for ventilating the interior of the cabin structure. The ventilation is supplemented with a ventilation heat 26 on the top of the cabin.

From the stern 12 side forming members 27 project. Standards 28 are attached upon these side forming members and support a shaft 29. The paddle wheel 16 is fixed upon this shaft and is formed of two sections 30 and 31 slightly spaced from each other so that a sprocket wheel 32 may be engaged upon the shaft 29 between the sections. The cylinder and piston structures 18 are mounted upon the deck 14. The ends of the cylinders are closed and the pistons are arranged within the cylinders. A stem 33 connects with each of the pistons and projects from the rear ends of the cylinders. The connecting rods 19 connect these stems with said cranks 17.

Thel means for driving said paddle wheel 16 for simulating that the cylinder and pistonr structures do the driving comprises a spring drive 34 mounted within the cabin and including a chain 35 extending over the said sprocket wheel 32. The spring drive comprises spaced plates 36 supporting a winding 37. A head 38 is formed upon this winding stem and is directly behind an opening 39 in the side of the cabin 15 so that a tool or key may -be engaged upon the head to wind the spring drive. A ratchet wheel 40 is fixed upon the stem 37 and is engaged by a pawl 41 carried by one of the plates 34 so as to limit turning of the stem in one direction only. A spring cover plate 42 is fixed upon the stem 37 and closes a spring barrel 43 freely mounted upon the winding stem 37 and held against longitudinal movements by a collar 44 fixed upon the stem and abutting the free side of the barrel. A spring 45 is mounted within the barrel 43 and has its inner end fixed upon the winding stem 37 and its outer end upon the interior of the spring barrel.

` Gear teeth 46 are formed upon the periph: ien

ery of the barrel 43 and mesh with a pinion 47 upon a spindle 48 rotatively mounted on the plates 34. A gear 49 is vfixed upon the spindle 48 and meshes With a reversing gear structure 50. which in turn meshes With a pinion 51 upon al spindle 52 rotatively supported betiveen the plates and carrying a sprocket Wheel 33 supporting the said chain The reversal gear structure comprises a non-rotatable stem 54l slidably mounted through one of the plates 34 and integral with a circular portion 55 formed With gear teeth on its periphery. A gear 56 is ireel mounted upon the stem54 for rotations and is positioned to one side of the circular portion 55. A collar 5r holds the gear 56 in the position mentioned. The pitch diameter of the teeth of the gear 56 is the same as the pitch diameter of the gear teeth upon the t portion 55, and the gear teeth are of the same diametrical pitch for meshing with the teeth of the gear 49. I

n A pair of'meshing gears 58 are rotatively mounted upon the side of the portion 55 opposite the gearv 56. rfhese meshing gears are of suchsize that their teeth at the opposite outer ends are upon thesame pitch diameter as the gear teeth 55. Rods 59 project from the portion 55 and accomplish the rotative supportingof the meshing gears 58. These rods slidably extend through the plate 34 opposite. the plate supporting the rod 54. The rods are parallel to each other to permit sliding; Stop collars 60 and 61 are attached upon' the rods 59 and 54 respectively to limit the sliding of these parts so that inv one position the gear 56 is in mesh With the gear 49 and in another position the gears 58 are in mesh with the gear 59.

The means including said cylinder and piston structures 18 for reversing operation of said paddle wheel 16 comprises valves 62 upon the ends of the cylinders and of the type so that as the pistons Within the cylinders operate, compression is formed in one ofthe ends of the cylinders While vacuum in the other. Pipes 63 connect the opposite ends of the cylinders with a container 64 attached up'on one of the plates 34. A slide control valve 65I is interposed in the piping 63 and is controlled by a lever 66 supported at 67. The valve 65 is such that in one position oi the lever 66 it is opened for the passage of vacuum from the container 64 to the cylinders, and in another position opened for the passage of compression from the container 64 to the cylinders and in another position closed so as not to connect the cylinders With the container.- A diaphragm 648 closes one en d of the container 64 and connects with the-rod 54.`

The slide valve 65 consists of a body 8O formed with chambers 81, 82, 83 and 84.. A slide 85 is slidably mounted in the body between the upper chambers 81 and 82 and the lower chambers 83 and 84 and. is formed with passages 86 and 87. Pipes 63 connect With chambers 81 and 82 While chambers 83 and 84 are connected with the compression side and vacuum side of the cylinder respectively. Check valves 88 are inserted in the connection between the chambers 83 and 84 and the cylinder for preventing the compression or vacuum from leaking oli'. In the position shown in Fig. 5 the valve 65 is in a closed position,l thatis, the connection between the cylinder and the container 64 is closed. Upon moving the slide 85 to the left by means of the lever 66, the passage 87 connects the chambers 81 and 837 thus connecting the container 64 With the compression side 0In the cylinder'. Upon moving the slide to the righty passage 86 connects chambers 82 and 84, thus connecting the container 64 With the vacuum side oi' the cylinder. A bleed 64 is formed in the container 64 so that accumulation or exhaustion of air from the container Will not choke the operation of the cylinder and piston structures 18.

In addition, the toy body is provided with pilots cabin 69 carryingV a searchlight 70 which is pivotally mounted at 71. Lanterns 72'are arranged on opposite sides of the deck Q0. At the bow ofthe boat there is a flag 78. Arderrick 74 is also mounted for simulating that the particular ship is a freight carrier. A Winch'74 is also provided on top of deck 14. Boilers 75 are mounted upon the deck 14 and connect with smoke stacks 76. yThis serves to indicate that there is a source oi steam' for the driving of the piston and cylinder structures -18.

The stem 38 may be Wound forivinding the springl45 and storing energy for subsequent driving of the paddle Wheel 16. Itis necessary to hold the paddle Wheel against rotation during such Winding. Upon release of the paddle Wheel,l rotations from the spring drive will be transmitted by the chain 35 to the paddle Wheel which Will rotate for propelling the toy body. The turning oi the paddle Wheel causes the reciprocation of the connecting rods 19 simulating that it is driving by the cylinder and piston structures. Reciprocation ofthe pistons Within the cylinders causes, forex'am'ple, pressure from one of the ends or" the cylinders to be communicated With the container 64 to move the diaphragm 68 so asto hold the gear v56 in mesh With the gears 49 and 51. y

For reversing therotations of the paddle Wheel 164, the handle 66 is moved to change the valves 65 forconnecting the vacuum ends of the cylinders with the container 64. This causes the diaphragm 68 to move inwards and move the stem 54 so that the meshing gears 58 now mesh With'the gears 49and 51 causing reversing ofthe" driving of the paddle Wheel 16. The paddle Wheel may be brought to a stop by moving the lever 66 so that the valve's' .t off compressi" vacnum from the container 64. In this case a and reversing means connected to said diaspring 78 which is connected between one of phragm for reversing said paddle wheel.

the plates 34, and the rods 59 move the portion 50 into position so that its gear teeth signature.

mesh with the gears 49 and 51. rl`his arrests the rotations of these gears and consequently holds the rotations of the paddle wheel.

While l have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A toy boat, comprising a hull portion having a bow, a stern, a keel, and a deck, a cabin portion on said deck, a paddle wheel on said stern, radial cranks on the axis of said paddle wheel, cylinder and piston struc tures on said deck, connecting rods between said pistons and cranks, and means including said cylinder and piston structures for reversing operation or" said paddle wheel.

2. A toy boa-t, comprising a hull portiony having a bow, stern, a keel, and a deck, a cabin portion on said deck, a paddle wheel on said stern, radial cranks on the axis of said paddle wheel, cylinder and piston strnctures on said deck, connecting rods between said pistons and cranks, and means including said cylinder and piston structures for reversing operation of said paddle wheel, comprising a spring drive having a reversing gear adapted for reversing when in one or another position, a vacuum and compression system from said cylinder and piston construction, a container for receiving said vacuum or compression, control valves for cutting oil either the vacuum or the compression or both from said container, and a diaphragm on said container connected with said reversing gear structure Jfor moving the structure into one or the other of said positions. i

3. A toy boat, comprising a hull portion having a bow, a stern, a keel, and a deck, a cabin portion on said deck, a paddle wheel on said stern, radial cranks on the aXis of said paddle wheels, cylinder and piston structures on said deck, connecting rods between said pistons and cranks, and means including said cylinder and piston structures for reversing operation of said paddle wheel, comprising a vacuum and compression system from said cylinder and piston construction, a container having one side open and connected for receiving said vacnum or compression, a slide valve for cutting either the vacuum or the compression or both from said container, a diaphragm closing the open side of the said container,

In testimony whereof I have axed my WILLIAM c. LEIBER.V 

